Civics and Economics Top 100 Topics to Know for the EOC
Goal 1: The learner will investigate the foundations of the American political system and explore basic values and principles of American democracy.
Colonial Differences:
• New England – Puritans, farming, lumber, fishing, ship building and trading
• Middle – religious toleration, economy based on exporting wheat
• Southern – large plantations, rice, cattle, farming, slavery
Magna Carta: An English document drawn up by nobles under King John which limited the power of the king. It has influenced later constitutional documents in Britain and America.
Enlightenment Philosophers:
• John Locke – Natural rights, rights people are born with, government can’t take away.
• Montesquieu – Separation of powers, dividing government power among legislative, executive, & judicial branches.
• Rousseau – Social contract, people give up some rights in order to receive social order.
House of Burgesses: The Virginia House of Burgess formed the first legislative body in colonial America. Later other colonies would adopt similar legislative bodies.
Mayflower Compact: The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for Plymouth Colony.
Mercantilism: possession of colonies provided mother countries with raw materials and markets to sell their goods in. Great Britain exported goods and forced the colonies to buy them so Great Britain would have more money.
Long-term causes of the Revolution: Discontent with foreign rule from Great Britain, Mercantilism, want of self-government, to gain self liberties, no taxation without representation.
Short-term causes of the Revolution: “Shot heard round the world” (Lexington and Concord) Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence.
Declaration of Independence: 1776, signed on the 4th of July by the Second Continental Congress. It dissolved (ended) the colonies dependence and ties with Great Britain. Also listed grievances (complaints) about King George III and said the colonies were not their own nation.
Articles of Confederation: first attempt at a constitution in the colonies. Gave most power to the states because the people were scared of a powerful central government. Articles had many weaknesses because the federal government had no power. No taxes, no national military, no judicial branch, all states had to agree to amend the Articles. Articles of Confederation were replaced by the Constitution.
Constitutional Compromises:
· Great Compromise: settled the differences between the New Jersey and Virginia Plans. New Jersey wanted representation to be equal; Virginia wanted representation to be based on population. The Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) created a bicameral legislature. Senate has equal representation and the House of Representatives is based on population.
· 3/5ths Compromise: to count population for representation in the House; slaves count as 3/5ths a person or every 5 slaves count as 3 persons. This was a compromise between Southern farm based states and business based Northern states.
Federalists: supported the Constitution; wanted a strong central government,; Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote Federalists papers trying to get the public to support the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists: against the Constitution, wanted strong state governments and a weak central government
Goal 2: The Learner will analyze how the government established by the United States Constitution embodies the purposes, values, and principles of American Democracy.
Principles of the Constitution: Popular Sovereignty, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Limited Government, and Flexibility (able to be amended/changed)
3 Branches of Government:
1. Legislative: makes laws; Article 1
2. Executive: enforces laws; Article 2
3. Judicial: interprets laws; Article 3
Bill of Rights: first 10 Amendments of the Constitution that give citizens their basic rights and freedoms. These were added to get the Anti-federalists to ratify (approve) the Constitution.
Suffrage Amendments:
· 15th: African American men granted right to vote
· 19th : Gave women the right to vote
· 23rd: gave the residents of the District of Columbia the right to vote in presidential elections.
· 24th: abolished poll taxes
· 26th gave 18 year olds and older the right to vote
Civil War Amendments:
· 13th Amendment: abolished slavery
· 14th: defined citizenship and guaranteed all citizens
· 15th : gave African Americans the right to vote
Impeachment: a majority of the members in the House of Representatives can accuse the President or other high government officials of serious wrongdoing while in office.
Judicial Review: The Supreme Court’s power to overturn any law that it decides is in conflict with the Constitution. (decided constitutional or unconstitutional)
Landmark Supreme Court Cases:
1. Marbury v Madison: judicial review created; midnight judges
2. Plessy v Ferguson: “separate but equal” is allowed and okay
3. Brown v Board of Education Topeka Kansas: overturned Plessy v Ferguson by saying separate is not equal
4. Gideon v Wainwright: uses the 14th Amendment to make all citizens equal under law, Gideon was not given an attorney.
5. Miranda v Arizona: rights of the accused; read your Miranda Rights at the time of arrest
6. Roe v Wade: gives women the right to choose an abortion, based on privacy
7. Texas v Johnson: allows burning of the flag, based on freedom of speech
8. Tinker v Des Moines: students are allowed to protest as long as there is not interruption of learning or teaching.
9. Charlotte v Mecklenburg: allowed schools to use busing to racially balance schools.
10. Mapp v Ohio: exclusionary rule; evidence taken illegally can’t be used in court
11. McCulloch v Maryland: rule National Bank is constitution and states cannot tax the national government, made national government superior to states
12. Gibbons v Ogden: ruled national government has power of interstate commerce
States’ Rights: a concept used to defend a state law that the federal government seeks to override
Government Revenue: Money the government collects such as taxes, fines, bonds, or user fees
Government Agencies: Conservation of natural resources, Immigration, Crime control and drug prevention, Health and Human Services, National Security, Transportation
Goal 3: The learner will analyze how state and local government is established by the North Carolina Constitution.
3 Branches of State and Local Government:
1. Legislative: NC General Assembly
2. Executive: Governor
3. Judicial: NC State Supreme, Appeal, Superior and District Court
Incorporation and Charters: a document giving permission to create a government and providing a plan as how that government should work
Types of Local Government: County, City, Special Districts (school districts) Townships, Metropolis
The Leandro Case: Determined that every North Carolina child has a Constitutional right to a sound, basic education.
State and Local Revenue: most money comes from State Income Taxes. Other forms of revenue are sales tax, excise tax, licenses, property tax, permits, user fees, and federal grants
State and Local Spending: most money is spent on schools and detention centers. NC has the one of largest state college system so most of our money is spent on education. Also spend money on health services, libraries, public housing, parks recreation, elections
Goal 4: The learner will explore active roles as a citizen at the local, state, and national levels of government.
Political Party Systems:
1. One Party System: one political party controls the government (Communism)
2. Two Party System: two main political parties compete for government positions. There can be smaller less powerful parties called Third Parties. Started in American with the Federalists and Anti-federalists.
3. Multi-party System: three or more political parties compete for government positions.
Types of Elections:
1. Primary election: members form the same party select candidates to run in general election.
2. General election: voters make a final decision about candidates or issues
3. Recall election: voters can remove elected officials from office.
Voting Procedures and Qualifications: 18 years old, US citizen, resident of the state where he/she wants to vote, registered to vote.
Election Campaign Process:
Private and Public Funding: money is raised to pay for the campaign
Canvassing: going door to door asking people to vote for a candidate
Endorsements: the action of publicly declaring one’s personal support for a candidate. (Tiger Woods endorses Nike)
Propaganda: messages that are meant to influence the people’s votes
Interest Groups and PACS
Interest Groups: people who work together for similar interest or goals
PACS: Political Action Committees promotes its members’ interest in state and national politics, regulated by the federal government on how much money they are allowed to donate to campaigns.
Electoral College: A group made of electors from each state who vote for presidential candidates; based on the “winner take all system” in most states. (know how this works!)
Mass Media and Public Opinion: TV, newspapers, magazines and the internet are the greatest factors that influence public opinion. Internet is available 24-7
Rights: what you are allowed to do (freedoms)
Duties: what you are required to do (pay taxes, obey laws, go to school, serve on juries)
Responsibilities: what you should do (vote, recycle, donate to charity, volunteer)
Mediation: is a process by which people agree to use a third party to help them settle a conflict
Arbitration: is the use of a third party to make a legal decision that is binding to all parties involved.
Goal 5: The learner will explain how the political and legal systems provide a means to balance competing interests and resolve conflicts.
Levels of Courts
Federal Courts: District Courts, US Court Appeals, US Supreme
Types of Jurisdiction:
Original: a courts authority to hear a case first
Appellate: a courts authority to hear an appeal of a decision by another court
Concurrent: a courts authority to hear a case is shared with another court (state and federal can both hear the case)
Exclusive: a courts authority to hear a case is not shared with another court (federal court only is an example)
Criminal Law: group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how accused persons should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished.
Civil Law: groups of laws that help settle disagreements between people
Judicial Independence: the idea that judges are independent of the people. They can make decisions they feel are just and correct without worrying about going against the desires of most people. One reason Supreme Court Justices are granted life terms
Hung Jury: a jury that cannot make a unanimous decision
Plea Bargain: the way most cases are ended in the US criminal courts. This means the person pleas to a lower crime for a lesser punishment.
The Legislative Process: HOW A BILL BE COMES A LAW: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THIS IN ALL ITS STEPS!!!!
Town meeting: found especially in New England, a legislative assembly of the qualified voters of a town (example of a direct democracy)
Annexation: when a town or city takes over more land area and makes them part of the city/town. The most common way towns/cities are growing.
Zoning: local rules that divide a community into areas and tell how the land can or cannot be used
Committees in Congress:
Standing Committees: permanent committees there from session to session
Joint Committee: permanent committees that have members from both the House and Senate
Select Committees: committees in one house; created for a special purpose and a limited amount of time
Conference Committees: committees that have members from both the House and Senate; created for a special purpose; usually to discuss legislation and are created for a limited amount of time
Goal 6: The learner will explain why laws are needed and how they are enacted, implemented, and enforced at the national, state and local levels.
Types of Laws:
Common Law: a body of law based on custom, and precedent, also known as unwritten law
Criminal Law: the group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how accused persons should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished
Civil Law: the group of laws that help settle disagreements between people
Types of Punishments: Probation, Juvenile detention, Community Service, House Arrest, Prison, Boot Camp
Criminal Trial Process:
1. Arrest: police arrest and book suspect
2. Preliminary Hearing: suspect appears before a judge, bail is set
3. Arraignment: Defendant pleads not guilty, trial date is set. OR defendant pleads guilty to a plea bargain
4. Trial: prosecution and defense present cases to jury. Jury reaches verdict.
5. Acquittal: Defendant found not guilty and goes free. OR Sentencing: defendant found guilty and sentenced to their punishment
Civil Trial
1. Plaintiff’s attorney files a complaint
2. Court sends a summons to defendant
3. Defendant’s attorney files a written answer
4. Attorneys from both sides exchange pleadings documents
5. Attorneys for plaintiff and defendant argue case in court
6. Court gives verdict
Law Enforcement Agencies:
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation
SBI: State Bureau of Investigation
Local Law Enforcement such as Police or Sheriff
Regulatory Agencies
FCC: Federal Communications Commission: makes rules for radio and television stations
CSPC: Consumer Safety Product Commission: sets safety standards for products.
Informed Citizenry: “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” It is the job of each citizen to know the law. Saying “I did not know” is not an excuse for any crime or wrongdoing.
Goal 7: The learner will investigate how and why individuals and groups make economic choices.
Factors of Production:
1. Natural Resources: found in nature
2. Labor: people who do both physical and mental work
3. Capital: machines and materials that are not natural resources used in production
4. Entrepreneur: person/persons who start a new business or make new improvements to an old method
Scarcity: not having enough resources or products the wants and needs of the people; the main problem of economics…the reason we have to make choices and decisions
Trade Offs: the alternative you face if you decided to do one thing rather than another
Opportunity Costs: the cost of the next best use of time and money when choosing to do one thing rather than another
Law of Diminishing Returns: the tendency for utility (satisfaction) one receives from a good or service to decline with more use or exposure. (your old shoes don’t usually make you as happy as your new ones)